By Mattie Knight


At one point or the other, one may lose a tooth because of old age, trauma or any other cause. The space that is left in the mouth will either be left blank or a denture put in its place. With dental implants, there will be placement of a rod at the jaw line, then a molded artificial tooth or crown is placed where the tooth was. When considering dental implants Maui residents need to know what the procedure involves.

There are some important considerations before one can qualify for the procedure. To begin with, one should have healthy gums and bones that are strong. These are important considerations. Implants look exactly like regular teeth and can be used for not just chewing but anything that regular teeth are able to do. Other considerations that are important are that the jaws and gum tissues should be in good condition. The position and size of jaws is also considered. People with poor oral hygiene and diabetics are discouraged from the procedure.

The procedure will not be as successful for people suffering from such bone conditions as osteoporosis. On the same note, people who have been taking steroids for long will not qualify. There are three sections of implants. There is the titanium metal fixed on the jaw bone. There is also the post which is fitted over the part jutting from the gum and a crown that offers a good appearance.

Crowns are typically made of composite resin in whitish tooth color. There are some instances in which the dentist could use porcelain tooth. This is however not as durable and may not last a lifetime. For the procedure, the dentist will take molds of existing teeth and make a crown shaped for replacement of the missing tooth. A shade of white close to the shade of the existing teeth will be chosen for the visible part.

Medical insurance does not consider dental implants in most cases. The reason for this is because the procedure is costly. It will help to consult an experienced surgeon who will offer advice as regards the pros and cons of the procedure. Such advice will help in making the decision on whether to go for the procedure.

The healing will take several months. In case the procedure involves the removal of a tooth that will be replaced, it will get pulled on the first day. There will then be placement of an implant anchor. Implants will take 3 to 9 months. During thus period, the titanium rod gets to blend with existing byline.

During this period, the patient may be given a temporary crown as the healing takes place. In some cases, the crown will be placed on the same day. Patients will experience some pain and bleeding at the site of the implant. Rarely will there be an infection after an implant is placed.

In order to prevent infections, it is advisable that the teeth are brushed and flossed well. Smokers are not encouraged to go for the procedure because there is a high chance that they will experience infections. Some common complications include nerve injury and excessive bleeding.




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